Road-sighting instrument



Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,477 R. s. SANFORD ROAD SIGHTING INSTRUMENT Filed April 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/G.Z

. I INVENTOR RoY SANFORD ATTORNEY Dec. 14 1926.

R. S. SANFORD ROAD S IGHTING INSTRUMENT Filed April 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY INVENTOR- RoY S.SANF0RD .as much room as possi Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BO! 8. M10311), 0] SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB 'IO BENDIX BRAKE COHPANY, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OI ILLINOIS.

aoan-smn'rme msrnonmrr.

Application fled April 9, 1926. Serial No. 100,915.

This invention relates to automobiles or similar diri ible vehicles, and is illustrated as embodierf in an automobile having novel sighting devices so arranged that the drlver may use them to determine how near hls rig t wheels are to the edge of the road, thus permitting him to give a passln car le without ing forced into the ditch.

In one desirable arrangement there are two sighting devices, one of which may, if desired, be the radiator cap or motometer, and the other of which is illustrated as being an inexpensive paper or celluloid device adhesively secured to the windshield.

Whatever their form, the devices are so.

arranged that, when the driver sights over them (at least when on a reasonably stralght road), his line of sight will intersect the road surface inside its right edge so long as his right wheels are on the road. Thus bodiment shown in the accompanying drawa glance along this line of sight will always tell him how near he is to the edge of t e road. 7

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one illustrative eming,-in which:

Figure 1 is a top planview of the vehicle on a straight stretch of road;

Figure 2 is a view from the d'rivers seat of the windshield and the road in front;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the device on the windshield;

Figure 4 is a similar view of a sighting device of somewhat different form;

Figure 5 is a vertical section-through part of the windshield, showing a different sighting device in side elevation; and

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the sighting device of Fi re 5.

The vehicle se ected for illustration is an automobile 10 having a steering wheel 12 and a windshield 14. The front sighting device may be a radiator cap or motometer 16, at the center of the front end of the car. The rear sighting device'is shown in Figures 2-4 as a circular paper or celluloid device 18 (Figures 2 and 3) or 118 (Figure 4) which may have a translucent border 20 serving as an advertising medium, and an opening or transparent center through which passes the'drivers line of vision.

In Figures 5 and 6, the rear sighting device is a loop of wire 218, which has practically no effect in obstructing the view, and which is su ported b a vacuumcup 220, of rubber or t e like, w ich adheres to the top of the windshield, and which is provided with advertising matter on its fiat rear face.

The device 18 (or 118 or 218) is above and at the left of device 16, so that the line 18--16 intersects the road surface a considerable distance ahead of the car. Device 18 is secured to the windshield 14 when the car is arranged at the extreme right of a straight stretch of road 24, the right wheels either being exactly at the right edge 26 of the road, or having any desired predetermined spacing from the edge 26 to give a margin of safety. Device 18 is securedin place at such a oint that the line 18-16 intersects the roa surface exactly at edge .26. Thereafter, the driver knows that he will not go off a reasonably straight stretch of road so long as his line of sight 18-16 intersects the road surface at the left of its right edge. When a passing car forces him over, he can readily tell with accuracy just how far over he can go without danger.

While one illustrative arrangement and embodiment has been described in detail, it

is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular arrangement, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A, motor vehicle havin a windshield and comprising, in combination therewith, a sighting device carried on the windshield, and a second sighting device on the vehicle forwardly, on a lower level, and at the right of the first device whereby a driver may aline said sights with the edge of'the road to position the vehicle a predetermined distance from such edge.

2. A motor vehicle having a windshield and a radiator cap forwardly of the windshield, and comprisin in combination therewith, a sightin eviee at the windshield above and at t e left of the radiator cap, whereby a driver may alineithe sighting device and the radiator cap with the edge of the road to position the vehicle a predetermined distance from such edge.

3. A motor vehicle having a windshield in combination therewith, a sightin device sup rted at the to of the wmdshleld and having a downwa 1 extending portion so narrow as not to obstruct the rivers view and arranged at its lower end as a. sighting 7 device above and at the left of said cap in such a position that the driver may liine with t the siqlhtifg device and the radiator cap e. go of the road topositionthe vehicle a predetermined distance from such 10 testiiqpny whereof, I have hereunto signed my name;

ROY S. SANFORD. 

